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In The Last Great Senate Ira Shapiro describes how Senators of the 1960s and '70s overcame southern opposition to civil rights, passed Great Society legislation, and battled the executive branch on Vietnam, Watergate, and its abuses of power. The right's sweep of the 1980 elections shattered that Senate, leaving a diminished institution in its wake.

In The Swing Vote: The Untapped Power of Independents, author Linda Killian looks beyond the polls and the headlines and talks with the frustrated citizens who are raising the alarm about the acute bi-polarity, special interest-influence, and gridlock in Congress, asking why Obama’s postpartisan presidency is anything but, and demanding realism, honest negotiation, and a sense of responsibility from their elected officials.

Negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement are making strides toward promoting environmental stewardship along with expanded trade. Join Ambassador Marantis for the discussion regarding progress in the TPP environment negotiations.

If the financial crisis has taught us anything, it is that Americans save too little, spend too much, and borrow excessively. Join us for a discussion of Sheldon Garon's new book "Beyond Our Means: Why America Spends While the World Saves."

Covering the history of the IMF and World Bank from their origins, Lavelle shows that domestic political constituencies in advanced industrial states have always been important drivers of international financial institution policy. She focuses in particular on the U.S. Congress, tracing its long history of involvement with these institutions and showing how the Congress wields significant influence. The impact of 2008 financial crisis has focused American politics on the global role played by the IMF and World Bank.